Data communication apparatus

ABSTRACT

A data communication apparatus wherein the stealthiness has been enhanced by significantly increasing the time required for a wiretapper to decrypt an encrypted text. The data communication apparatus is constituted by connecting a data transmitting apparatus and a data receiving apparatus via a transmission path. The data transmitting apparatus receives a first predetermined initial value (key information) and information data, generates a multi-valued signal the level of which varies substantially like a random number, and converts the multi-valued signal to a modulated signal of a predetermined modulation format for transmission. The data receiving apparatus demodulates the modulated signal to output the multi-valued signal, and then reproduces the information data from the multi-valued signal and a second predetermined initial value (key information) that is received.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus that performs secretcommunication to prevent illegal wiretapping and interception by thirdparties. More particularly, the present invention relates to anapparatus that selects and sets a specific encoding and decoding(modulating and demodulating) method to perform data communicationbetween authorized transmitters and receivers.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, to perform communication only among specific persons, amethod is adopted in which key information for encoding and decoding isshared between the transmitter and the receiver and an operation or aninverse operation of the information data (plain text) to be transmittedis mathematically performed based on the key information to therebyrealize secret communication. FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing thestructure of a conventional data transmitting apparatus based on themethod. In FIG. 53, the conventional data communication apparatus isconstituted by connecting a data transmission apparatus 90001 and a datareceiving apparatus 90002 via a transmission path 913. The datatransmission apparatus 90001 has an encoding part 911 and a modulatingpart 912. The data receiving apparatus 90002 has a demodulating part 914and a decoding part 915. In the conventional data communicationapparatus, when the encoding part 911 receives information data 90 andfirst key information 91 and the decoding part 915 receives second keyinformation 96, the decoding part 915 outputs information data 98.Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional data communicationapparatus will be explained with reference to FIG. 53.

In the data transmission apparatus 90001, the encoding part 911 encodes(encrypts) the information data 90 based on the first key information91. The modulating part 912 modulates the information data encoded bythe encoding part 911 in a predetermined modulation format, andtransmits it as a modulated signal 94 to the data receiving apparatus90002 via the transmission path 913. In the data receiving apparatus90002, the demodulating part 914 demodulates the modulated signal 94transmitted via the transmission path 913 in a predetermineddemodulation format, and outputs it as encoded information data. Thedecoding part 915 decodes (decrypts) the encoded information data basedon the second key information 96 shared with the encoding part 911, andreproduces the original information data 98.

Now, wiretapping by a third party will be explained by using awiretapper data receiving apparatus 90003. In FIG. 53, the wiretapperdata receiving apparatus 90003 has a wiretapper demodulating part 916and a wiretapper decoding part 917. The wiretapper demodulating part 916wiretaps the modulated signal (information data) transmitted between thedata transmitting apparatus 90001 and the data receiving apparatus90002, and demodulates the wiretapped modulated signal by apredetermined demodulation method. The wiretapper decoding part 917tries to decode the signal demodulated by the wiretapper demodulatingpart 916 based on third key information 99. Here, since the keyinformation is not shared between the wiretapper decoding part 917 andthe encoding part 911, the wiretapper decoding part 917 tries to decodethe signal demodulated by the wiretapper demodulating part 916 based onthe third key information 99 different from the first key information91. For this reason, the wiretapper decoding part 917 cannot correctlydecode the signal modulated by the wiretapper demodulating part 916, andcannot reproduce the original information data.

The mathematical encryption (also called computational encryption orsoftware encryption) technology based on such a mathematical operationis adaptable, for example, to an access system as mentioned in a patentdocument 1. That is, in a PON (passive optical network) structure inwhich an optical signal sent out from one optical transmitter isbranched by an optical coupler and distributed to each of the opticalreceivers at a plurality of optical subscriber homes, a signal for othersubscribers other than the desired optical signal is inputted to eachoptical receiver. Therefore, by encrypting the information data for eachsubscriber by using different pieces of key information, information ofeach subscriber is prevented from being leaked and wiretapped, so thatsafe data communication can be realized.

The patent document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.H09-205420

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the conventional data communication apparatus based on themathematical encryption technology has the following problem: Eventhough the key information is not shared, wiretappers can performdecryption in theory by trying an operation using all the possiblecombinations of key information (brute force attack) or the applicationof a special analytical algorithm to the cipher (modulated signal, orencrypted information data). In particular, the processing speed ofcomputers has been remarkably improving in recent years, and ifcomputers based on a new principle such as quantum computers arerealized in the future, it will be possible to wiretap ciphers within alimited time.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide ahigh-stealthiness data communication apparatus based on an astronomicalamount of calculations which apparatus significantly increases the timerequired for wiretappers to analyze ciphers.

Solution to the Problems

The present invention is directed to a data transmitting apparatus thatperforms cipher communication. To achieve the above object, the datatransmitting apparatus according to the present invention is providedwith a multi-level encoding part and a modulating part. The multi-levelencoding part receives predetermined key information and informationdata, and generates a multi-level signal the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number. The modulating part generatesa modulated signal of a predetermined modulation format based on themulti-level signal. The multi-level encoding part includes: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from the keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; and a multi-level processingpart that combines the multi-level code sequence and the informationdata according to a predetermined processing to thereby generate amulti-level signal having a level corresponding to a combination of thesignal levels of the multi-level code sequence and the information data.The multi-level encoding part sets the inter signal point intervals ofthe multi-level signal so as to be substantially uniform.

Preferably, the inter signal point intervals of the multi-level signalare smaller than the amplitude of the information data included in themulti-level signal. The maximum amplitude of the multi-level signal isequal to or larger than twice the amplitude of the information dataincluded in the multi-level signal.

The data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with a datainverting part that bit-inverts the information data based on apredetermined pseudo-random number sequence and outputs the bit-invertedinformation data to the multi-level encoding part. Moreover, the changerates of the multi-level code sequence and the information data coincidewith each other. The information data is a binary signal.

Preferably, as the predetermined processing, the multi-level processingpart generates the multi-level signal by adding the information data tothe multi-level code sequence by using the multi-level code sequence asthe reference level. Moreover, as the predetermined processing, themulti-level processing part may generate the multi-level signal bylevel-controlling the multi-level code sequence according to theinformation data by using the multi-level code sequence as the referencelevel.

The modulated signal is generated by modulating an electromagnetic fieldby the multi-level signal. Moreover, the modulated signal may begenerated by modulating a light wave by the multi-level signal. At thistime, the light wave may be coherent light.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with anoise controlling part that is connected between the multi-levelencoding part and the modulating part, combines a predetermined noise onthe multi-level signal, and outputs the signal to the modulating part asa noise-combined multi-level signal. At this time, the noise controllingpart includes: a noise generating part that generates the predeterminednoise; and a combining part that combines the noise and the multi-levelsignal.

The multi-level encoding part distributes, in the noise-combinedmulti-level signal, the inter signal point intervals of the multi-levelsignal so that the signal-to-noise power ratios calculated betweenadjoining two signal points are substantially the same. Moreover, themulti-level encoding part nonuniformly or nonlinearly distributes, inthe noise-combined multi-level signal, the inter signal point intervalsof the multi-level signal so that the signal-to-noise power ratioscalculated between adjoining two signal points are substantially thesame.

The data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with anequalizing part that is connected between the multi-level encoding partand the modulating part and waveform-equalizes the multi-level signal bypredetermined means. Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus maybe further provided with an equalizing part that waveform-equalizes theinformation data by predetermined means and outputs thewaveform-equalized information data to the multi-level encoding part.Alternatively, in the data transmitting apparatus, the multi-levelencoding part may be further provided with an equalizing part that isconnected between the multi-level code generating part and themulti-level processing part and waveform-equalizes the multi-level codesequence by predetermined means. Alternatively, the data transmittingapparatus may be further provided with an equalizing part thatwaveform-equalizes the modulated signal by predetermined means.

The equalizing part is a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter filters asignal component of equal to or lower than half the signal band of aninputted signal. Alternatively, the equalizing part may be a high-passfilter that intercepts a direct-current component included in the signalfrom an inputted signal. Alternatively, the equalizing part may be aband-pass filter that filters a signal component of a predeterminedfrequency band from an inputted signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatgenerates a first modulated signal of a predetermined modulation formatbased on the multi-level code sequence; a second modulating part thatreceives the first modulated signal and information data and generates asecond modulated signal of a predetermined modulation format based onthe information data; and an equalizing part that is connected in thesucceeding stage of the multi-level code generating part andwaveform-equalizes the multi-level code sequence by predetermined means.

Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatreceives information data and generates a first modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format based on the information data; a secondmodulating part that receives the first modulated signal and themulti-level code sequence and generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format based on the multi-level code sequence;and an equalizing part that is connected in the succeeding stage of themulti-level code generating part and waveform-equalizes the multi-levelcode sequence by predetermined means.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus may be further providedwith: an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is connected in the preceding stage ofthe multi-level encoding part, amplitude-modulates the information databased on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal to the multi-level encoding part.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with:an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted between the multi-levelencoding part and the modulating part, amplitude-modulates themulti-level signal based on the amplitude control signal, and outputsthe amplitude-modulated signal to the modulating part.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with:an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is connected in the succeeding stageof the modulating part, modulates the modulated signal in apredetermined modulation format based on the amplitude control signal,and outputs the modulated signal. At this time, the amplitude modulatingpart amplitude-modulates or intensity-modulates the modulated signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the level of which variessubstantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatgenerates a first modulated signal of a predetermined modulation formatbased on the multi-level code sequence; a second modulating part thatreceives information data and generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format; and a multiplexing part thatmultiplexes the first modulated signal and the second modulated signal.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus is further provided with: anamplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe second modulating part, amplitude-modulates the information databased on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus may be further providedwith: an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe first modulating part, amplitude-modulates the multi-level codesequence based on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatgenerates a first modulated signal of a predetermined modulation formatbased on the multi-level code sequence; and a second modulating partthat receives information data, modulates the first modulated signal bythe information data, and generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus is further provided with: anamplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe second modulating part, amplitude-modulates the information databased on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus may be further providedwith: an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe first modulating part, amplitude-modulates the multi-level codesequence based on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with abase N encoding part that is connected in the preceding stage of themulti-level encoding part, encodes an information data group comprisinga plurality of pieces of the information data, into a number in givenbase system according to a predetermined processing, and outputs thenumber to the multi-level encoding part as a base N encoded signal.

Preferably, to encode the information data group into the number ingiven base system, the base N encoding part varies multiple levels ofthe base N encoded signal according to a combination of logics by thepieces of information data. At this time, the base N encoding partoutputs the base N encoded signal from the information data group basedon the key information.

Moreover, the base N encoding part may output the base N encoded signalfrom the information data group based on key information different fromthe above key information. The multi-level encoding part generates themulti-level signal of any one of a plurality of predetermined levelnumbers every predetermined period.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with:a synchronous signal generating part that outputs a predeterminedsynchronous signal corresponding to the multi-level signal; and amulti-level processing controlling part that outputs a multi-levelprocessing control signal that specifies the level number based on thesynchronous signal. The multi-level encoding part outputs a binarymulti-level signal in at least any of the predetermined periods. In thiscase, the multi-level encoding part makes the amplitude of the binarymulti-level signal equal to or larger than the amplitude of themulti-level signal of the maximum level number of the level numbers, andoutputs the binary multi-level signal. Alternatively, the multi-levelencoding part outputs the information data as the binary multi-levelsignal.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus changes the transfer rate ofthe information data, the multi-level code sequence or the multi-levelsignal according to the level number. Moreover, the data transmittingapparatus increases the transfer rate of the information data, themulti-level code sequence or the multi-level signal as the level numberdecreases.

Moreover, the present invention is also directed to a data receivingapparatus that performs cipher communication. To achieve the aboveobject, the data receiving apparatus according to the present inventionis provided with a demodulating part and a multi-level decoding part.

The demodulating part demodulates a modulated signal of a predeterminedmodulation format, and outputs a multi-level signal. The multi-leveldecoding part receives predetermined key information and the multi-levelsignal, and outputs information data. The multi-level decoding partincludes: a multi-level code generating part that generates, from thekey information, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; and a multi-leveldiscriminating part that discriminates the multi-level signal based onthe multi-level code sequence and outputs the information data.

Moreover, the data receiving apparatus may be further provided with adata inverting part that bit-inverts the information data outputted fromthe multi-level decoding part based on a predetermined pseudo-randomnumber sequence and outputs the bit-inverted information data.

Moreover, the multi-level decoding part may further include an amplitudecontrol signal generating part that generates, from predeterminedamplitude control key information, an amplitude control signal the valueof which varies substantially like a random number. Moreover, themulti-level discriminating part discriminates the multi-level signalbased on the multi-level code sequence and the amplitude control signal,and outputs the information data.

Preferably, the multi-level discriminating part switches a thresholdvalue for discriminating the multi-level signal, based on the levelnumber of the multi-level signal inputted in a predetermined prescribedperiod.

The data receiving apparatus may be further provided with: a synchronoussignal generating part that reproduces a predetermined synchronoussignal corresponding to the multi-level signal; and a multi-leveldiscrimination controlling part that outputs a multi-leveldiscrimination control signal that changes the threshold value at themulti-level discriminating part based on the synchronous signal. Themulti-level decoding part discriminates the binary multi-level signal atleast in any of the predetermined periods.

Moreover, the present invention is directed to a data communicationapparatus in which a data transmitting apparatus and a data receivingapparatus perform cipher communication. To achieve the above object, inthe data communication apparatus according to the present invention, thedata transmitting apparatus is provided with a multi-level encoding partand a modulating part. The multi-level encoding part receivespredetermined first key information and information data, and generatesa first multi-level signal the signal level of which variessubstantially like a random number. The modulating part generates amodulated signal of a predetermined modulation format based on the firstmulti-level signal. The multi-level encoding part includes: a firstmulti-level code generating part that generates, from the first keyinformation, a first multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially a random number; and a multi-level processing partthat combines the first multi-level code sequence and the informationdata according to a predetermined processing so as to be converted intothe first multi-level signal having a level corresponding to acombination of the signal levels of the first multi-level code sequenceand the information data. The first multi-level code generating partsets the inter signal point intervals of the multi-level signal so as tobe substantially uniform.

Moreover, the data receiving apparatus is provided with a demodulatingpart and a multi-level decoding part. The demodulating part demodulatesthe modulated signal of the predetermined modulation format, and outputsa second multi-level signal. The multi-level decoding part receivespredetermined second key information and the second multi-level signal,and outputs information data.

Preferably, the inter signal point intervals of the multi-level signalare smaller than the amplitude of the information data included in themulti-level signal. The maximum amplitude of the multi-level signal isequal to or larger than twice the amplitude of the information dataincluded in the multi-level signal.

The data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with a datainverting part that bit-inverts the information data based on apredetermined pseudo-random number sequence and outputs the bit-invertedinformation data to the multi-level encoding part. Moreover, the changerates of the multi-level code sequence and the information data coincidewith each other. The information data is a binary signal.

Preferably, as the predetermined processing, the multi-level processingpart generates the multi-level signal by adding the information data tothe multi-level code sequence by using the multi-level code sequence asthe reference level. Moreover, as the predetermined processing, themulti-level processing part generates the multi-level signal bylevel-controlling the multi-level code sequence according to theinformation data by using the multi-level code sequence as the referencelevel.

The modulated signal is generated by modulating an electromagnetic fieldby the multi-level signal. Moreover, the modulated signal is generatedby modulating a light wave by the multi-level signal. At this time, thelight wave is coherent light.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with anoise controlling part that is connected between the multi-levelencoding part and the modulating part, combines a predetermined noise onthe multi-level signal, and outputs the signal to the modulating part asa noise-combined multi-level signal. At this time, the noise controllingpart includes: a noise generating part that generates the predeterminednoise; and a combining part that combines the noise and the multi-levelsignal.

The multi-level encoding part distributes, in the noise-combinedmulti-level signal, the inter signal point intervals of the multi-levelsignal so that the signal-to-noise power ratios calculated betweenadjoining two signal points are substantially the same. Moreover, themulti-level encoding part nonuniformly or nonlinearly distributes, inthe noise-combined multi-level signal, the inter signal point intervalsof the multi-level signal so that the signal-to-noise power ratioscalculated between adjoining two signal points are substantially thesame.

The data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with anequalizing part that is connected between the multi-level encoding partand the modulating part and waveform-equalizes the multi-level signal bypredetermined means. Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus maybe further provided with an equalizing part that waveform-equalizes theinformation data by predetermined means and outputs thewaveform-equalized information data to the multi-level encoding part.Alternatively, in the data transmitting apparatus, the multi-levelencoding part may be further provided with an equalizing part that isconnected between the multi-level code generating part and themulti-level processing part and waveform-equalizes the multi-level codesequence by predetermined means. Alternatively, the data transmittingapparatus may be further provided with an equalizing part thatwaveform-equalizes the modulated signal by predetermined means.

The equalizing part is a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter filters asignal component of equal to or lower than half the signal band of aninputted signal. Alternatively, the equalizing part may be a high-passfilter that intercepts a direct-current component included in the signalfrom an inputted signal. Alternatively, the equalizing part may be aband-pass filter that filters a signal component of a predeterminedfrequency band from an inputted signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatgenerates a first modulated signal of a predetermined modulation formatbased on the multi-level code sequence; a second modulating part thatreceives the first modulated signal and information data and generates asecond modulated signal of a predetermined modulation format based onthe information data; and an equalizing part that is connected in thesucceeding stage of the multi-level code generating part andwaveform-equalizes the multi-level code sequence by predetermined means.

Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatreceives information data and generates a first modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format based on the information data; a secondmodulating part that receives the first modulated signal and themulti-level code sequence and generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format based on the multi-level code sequence;and an equalizing part that is connected in the succeeding stage of themulti-level code generating part and waveform-equalizes the multi-levelcode sequence by predetermined means.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus may be further providedwith: an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is connected in the preceding stage ofthe multi-level encoding part, amplitude-modulates the information databased on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal to the multi-level encoding part.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided withan amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted between the multi-levelencoding part and the modulating part, amplitude-modulates themulti-level signal based on the amplitude control signal, and outputsthe amplitude-modulated signal to the modulating part.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with:an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is connected in the succeeding stageof the modulating part, modulates the modulated signal in apredetermined modulation format based on the amplitude control signal,and outputs the modulated signal. At this time, the amplitude modulatingpart amplitude-modulates or intensity-modulates the modulated signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the level of which variessubstantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatgenerates a first modulated signal of a predetermined modulation formatbased on the multi-level code sequence; a second modulating part thatreceives information data and generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format; and a multiplexing part thatmultiplexes the first modulated signal and the second modulated signal.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus is further provided with: anamplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe second modulating part, amplitude-modulates the information databased on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus may be further providedwith: an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe first modulating part, amplitude-modulates the multi-level codesequence based on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be provided with: amulti-level code generating part that generates, from predetermined keyinformation, a multi-level code sequence the signal level of whichvaries substantially like a random number; a first modulating part thatgenerates a first modulated signal of a predetermined modulation formatbased on the multi-level code sequence; and a second modulating partthat receives information data, modulates the first modulated signal bythe information data, and generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus is further provided with: anamplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe second modulating part, amplitude-modulates the information databased on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Alternatively, the data transmitting apparatus may be further providedwith an amplitude control signal generating part that generates, frompredetermined amplitude control key information, an amplitude controlsignal the value of which varies substantially like a random number; andan amplitude modulating part that is inserted in the preceding stage ofthe first modulating part, amplitude-modulates the multi-level codesequence based on the amplitude control signal, and outputs theamplitude-modulated signal.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with abase N encoding part that is connected in the preceding stage of themulti-level encoding part, encodes an information data group comprisinga plurality of pieces of the information data, into a number in givenbase system according to a predetermined processing, and outputs thenumber to the multi-level encoding part as a base N encoded signal.

Preferably, to encode the information data group into the number ingiven base system, the base N encoding part varies multiple levels ofthe base N encoded signal according to a combination of logics by thepieces of information data. At this time, the base N encoding partoutputs the base N encoded signal from the information data group basedon the key information. Moreover, the base N encoding part outputs thebase N encoded signal from the information data group based on keyinformation different from the key information. The multi-level encodingpart generates the multi-level signal of any one of a plurality ofpredetermined level numbers every predetermined period.

Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus may be further provided with:a synchronous signal generating part that outputs a predeterminedsynchronous signal corresponding to the multi-level signal; and amulti-level processing controlling part that outputs a multi-levelprocessing control signal that specifies the level number based on thesynchronous signal. The multi-level encoding part outputs a binarymulti-level signal in at least any of the predetermined periods. In thiscase, the multi-level encoding part makes the amplitude of the binarymulti-level signal equal to or larger than the amplitude of themulti-level signal of the maximum level number of the level numbers, andoutputs the binary multi-level signal. Alternatively, the multi-levelencoding part outputs the information data as the binary multi-levelsignal.

Preferably, the data transmitting apparatus changes the transfer rate ofthe information data, the multi-level code sequence or the multi-levelsignal according to the level number. Moreover, the data transmittingapparatus increases the transfer rate of the information data, themulti-level code sequence or the multi-level signal as the level numberdecreases.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The data communication apparatus according to the present inventionencodes and modulates the information data into the multi-level signalbased on the key information, transmits the multi-level signal,demodulates and decodes the received multi-level signal based on thesame key information, and optimizes the signal-to-noise power ratios ofthe multi-level signal to thereby significantly increase the timerequired for the analysis of ciphers, so that a high-stealthiness datacommunication apparatus based on an astronomical amount of calculationscan be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view explaining the waveform of a transmissionsignal of the data communication apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view explaining the waveform of a transmissionsignal of the data communication apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view explaining the transmission signal quality ofthe data communication apparatus according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view explaining transmission signal parameters ofa data communication apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of informationdata 10.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of a multi-levelcode sequence 12.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of a multi-levelsignal 13.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a noise signal.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of a modulatedsignal 14 when noise is combined.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of theinformation data 10.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of themulti-level code sequence 12.

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of themulti-level signal 13.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of the noise signal.

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of the modulatedsignal 14 on which the noise signal is combined.

FIG. 18 is a view showing the relation between a multi-level signal 15and the determination threshold value of the multi-level signal 15.

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of themulti-level signal 15.

FIG. 20A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 20B is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 20C is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 20D is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of the waveform of an equalizedmulti-level signal 24 outputted by an equalizing part 115.

FIG. 22 is a view explaining the discrimination of an equalizedmulti-level signal 25.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the seventh embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view for explaining the signal waveforms of partsof the data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view explaining the transmission signal qualityof the data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a second example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a third example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a fourth example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a fifth example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 32A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 32B is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the ninth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 33A is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the ninth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 33B is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to the ninth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a view showing examples of the waveform of information datagroup inputted to a base N encoding part 131.

FIG. 36 is a view showing an example of the waveform of a base N encodedsignal 52 outputted from the base N encoding part 131.

FIG. 37 is a view showing an example of the waveform of the multi-levelsignal 13 outputted from a multi-level processing part 111 b.

FIG. 38 is a view explaining an example of the discrimination of themulti-level signal 15 by a multi-level discriminating part 212 b.

FIG. 39 is a view showing the waveform of the multi-level signal 15 onwhich noise is combined.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 41 is a block diagram showing another example of the structure ofthe data communication apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a schematic view for explaining the signal waveform outputtedfrom a multi-level encoding part 111.

FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a schematic view explaining the transmission signal waveformof the data communication apparatus according to the thirteenthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 48B is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 48C is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 49A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 49B is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 49C is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 50A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 50B is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 50C is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 51A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 51B is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 51C is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 52A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 52B is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 52C is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of adata communication apparatus in which the characteristics of some of theembodiments of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing the structure of the conventionaldata communication apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   -   10, 18 information data    -   11, 16, 38, 39, 91, 96, 99 key information    -   12, 17 multi-level code sequence    -   13, 15 multi-level signal    -   14, 41, 42, 94 modulated signal    -   24, 25 equalized multi-level signal    -   27 equalized multi-level code sequence    -   35, 40 amplitude control signal    -   36 amplitude-modulated information data    -   37 amplitude-modulated multi-level signal    -   110 transmission path    -   111 multi-level encoding part    -   111 a first multi-level code generating part    -   111 b multi-level processing part    -   112, 122, 123, 912 modulating part    -   113 first data inverting part    -   114 noise controlling part    -   114 a noise generating part    -   114 b combining part    -   115 equalizing part    -   116, 122 first modulating part    -   117, 123 second modulating part    -   120 amplitude controlling part    -   120 a first amplitude control signal generating part    -   120 b amplitude modulating part    -   124 multiplexing part    -   131, 132 base N encoding part    -   134 synchronous signal generating part    -   135 multi-level processing controlling part    -   211, 914, 916 demodulating part    -   212, 218 multi-level decoding part    -   212 a second multi-level signal generating part    -   212 b multi-level discriminating part    -   212 c second amplitude control signal generating part    -   213 second data inverting part    -   220, 221 base N decoding part    -   233 synchronous signal reproducing part    -   234 multi-level discrimination controlling part    -   236 sub demodulating part    -   237 discriminating part    -   911 encoding part    -   915, 917 decoding part    -   10101 to 19108 data transmitting apparatus    -   10201 to 19207 data receiving apparatus

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 1, the data communication apparatus according to the firstembodiment is constituted by connecting a data transmitting apparatus10101 and a data receiving apparatus 10201 via a transmission path 110.The data transmitting apparatus 10101 has a multi-level encoding part111 and a modulating part 112. The multi-level encoding part 111includes a first multi-level code generating part 111 a and amulti-level processing part 111 b. The data receiving apparatus 10201has a demodulating part 211 and a multi-level decoding part 212. Themulti-level decoding part 212 includes a second multi-level codegenerating part 212 a and a multi-level discriminating part 212 b. Asthe transmission path 110, a metal line such as a LAN cable or a coaxialcable, or an optical waveguide such as an optical fiber cable may beused. The transmission path 110 is not limited to a wired cable such asa LAN cable, and may be a free space that allows radio signals topropagate therethrough.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views for explaining the waveforms of themodulated signals outputted from the modulating part 112. Hereinafter,the operation of the data communication apparatus according to the firstembodiment will be explained by using FIGS. 1 to 3.

The first multi-level code generating part 111 a generates a multi-levelcode sequence 12 (FIG. 2( b)) the signal level of which variessubstantially like a random number, based on predetermined first keyinformation 11. The multi-level processing part 111 b receives themulti-level code sequence 12 and information data 10 (FIG. 2( a)), andcombines these signals by a predetermined procedure to thereby generatea multi-level signal 13 (FIG. 2( c)) having a level uniquelycorresponding to a combination of the levels of the signals. Forexample, when the level of the multi-level code sequence 12 varies likec1, c5, c3 and c4 for the time slots t1, t2, t3 and t4, with themulti-level code sequence 12 as the bias level, the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b adds the information data 10 to thereby generatethe multi-level signal 13 the level of which varies like L1, L8, L6 andL4.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the amplitude of the information data 10 willbe referred to as “information amplitude,” the total amplitude of themulti-level signal 13, as “multi-level signal amplitude,” the levelcombinations (L1, L4), (L2, L5), (L3, L6), (L4, L7), and (L5, L8) thatthe multi-level signal 13 can take in correspondence with the levels c1,c2, c3, c4, and c5 of the multi-level code sequence 12, as a first to afifth “bases,” and the shortest inter signal point interval of themulti-level signal 13, as “step width.”

The modulating part 112 modulates the multi-level signal 13 in apredetermined modulation format, and sends it out to the transmissionpath 110 as a modulated signal 14. The demodulating part 211 demodulatesthe modulated signal 14 transmitted via the transmission path 110, andreproduces a multi-level signal 15. The second multi-level codegenerating part 212 a previously shares second key information 16 thesame as the first key information 11, and generates a multi-level codesequence 17 corresponding to the multi-level code sequence 12 based onthe second key information 16. The multi-level discriminating part 212 bperforms the discrimination (binary determination) of the multi-levelsignal 15 with the multi-level code sequence 17 as the threshold value,and reproduces information data 18. Here, the modulated signal 14 of thepredetermined modulation format transmitted and received via thetransmission path 110 by the modulating part 112 and the demodulatingpart 211 is obtained by modulating an electromagnetic wave(electromagnetic field) or a light wave by the multi-level signal 13.

The multi-level processing part 111 b may generate the multi-levelsignal 13 by any method as well as generates the multi-level signal 13by the addition of the multi-level code sequence 12 and the informationdata 10 a as described above. For example, the multi-level processingpart 111 b may generate the multi-level signal 13 byamplitude-modulating the level of the multi-level code sequence 12 basedon the information data 10 or may generate the multi-level signal 13 bysuccessively reading the level of the multi-level signal 13corresponding to the combination of the information data 10 and themulti-level code sequence 12 from a memory where the levels of themulti-level signal 13 are prestored.

While the level of the multi-level signal 13 is represented in eightsteps in FIGS. 2 and 3, the level of the multi-level signal 13 is notlimited to this representation. While the information amplitude isrepresented as three times or an integral multiple of the step width ofthe multi-level signal 13, the information amplitude is not limited tothis representation. The information amplitude may be any integralmultiple of the step width of the multi-level signal 13 or is notnecessarily an integral multiple. Further, while in relation thereto,the levels (bias levels) of the multi-level code sequence 12 aredisposed so as to be substantially at the center of the levels of themulti-level signal 13 in FIGS. 2 and 3, the disposition of the levels ofthe multi-level code sequence 12 are not limited thereto. The levels ofthe multi-level code sequence 12 are not necessarily substantially atthe center of the levels of the multi-level signal 13 or may coincidewith the levels of the multi-level signal 13. While it is premised thatthe change rates of the multi-level code sequence 12 and the informationdata 10 are equal to each other and in synchronization, the presentinvention is not limited thereto; the change rates may be such that oneis higher (or lower) than the other or may be asynchronous to eachother.

Next, wiretapping of the modulated signal 14 by a third party will beexplained. It is considered that the third party decrypts the modulatedsignal by using a structure corresponding to the data receivingapparatus 10201 that the authorized user has or a higher-performancedata receiving apparatus (wiretapper data receiving apparatus). Thewiretapper data receiving apparatus reproduces the multi-level signal bydemodulating the modulated signal 14. However, since the key informationis not shared between the wiretapper data receiving apparatus and thedata transmitting apparatus 10101, the wiretapper data receivingapparatus cannot generate the multi-level code sequence from the keyinformation like the data receiving apparatus 10201. For this reason,the wiretapper data receiving apparatus cannot perform the binarydetermination of the multi-level signal with reference to themulti-level code sequence.

Wiretapping considered to be performed in such a case includessimultaneously discriminating all the levels of the multi-level signal(generally called “brute force attack”). That is, the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus is provided with threshold values for all the intersignal point intervals that the multi-level signal can take, performsthe simultaneous determination of the multi-level signal, and analyzesthe result of the determination to thereby try to extract the correctkey information or information data. For example, the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus tries to extract the correct key information orinformation data by performing the multi-level determination on themulti-level signal by using, as the threshold values, the levels c0, c1,c2, c3, c4, c5 and c6 of the multi-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG.2.

However, noise is caused by various factors in actual transmissionsystems, and by this noise being combined on the modulated signal, thelevel of the multi-level signal fluctuates with time and momentarily asshown in FIG. 4. In such a case, while the SN ratio (signal-to-noiseintensity ratio) of the signal to be determined (multi-level signal)determined by the authorized receiver (data receiving apparatus 10201)depends on the ratio between the information amplitude and the noiseamount of the multi-level signal, the SN ratio of the signal to bedetermined (multi-level signal) determined by the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus depends on the ratio between the step width and thenoise amount of the multi-level signal.

For this reason, under a condition where the noise level of the signalto be determined is the same, in the wiretapper receiving apparatus, theSN ratio of the signal to be determined is relatively low, so that thetransmission characteristic (error rate) is deteriorated. That is, byusing this characteristic, the data communication apparatus can makewiretapping difficult by inducing discrimination errors in the thirdparty's brute force attack using all the threshold values. Inparticular, in the data communication apparatus, by setting the stepwidth of the multi-level signal so as to be on the same order as orlower than the noise amplitude (the spread of the noise intensitydistribution), the multi-level determination by third parties is madevirtually impossible, so that ideal wiretapping prevention can berealized.

As the noise combined on the signal to be determined (the multi-levelsignal, or the modulated signal), when an electromagnetic wave such as aradio signal is used as the modulated signal, the thermal noise(Gaussian noise) that the spatial field, an electronic part or the likehas may be used, and when a light wave is used, a photon numberfluctuation (quantum noise) caused when photons are generated may beused in addition to the thermal noise. In particular, since signalprocessing such as recording and duplicating cannot be performed on thesignals using the quantum noise, in the data communication apparatus, bysetting the step width of the multi-level signal with reference to thenoise amount, wiretapping by third parties is made impossible, so thatthe absolute safety of the data communication can be ensured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a safe datacommunication apparatus can be provided in which when the informationdata to be transmitted is encoded as a multi-level signal, byappropriately setting the inter signal point intervals of themulti-level signal with respect to the noise amount, a decisivedeterioration is caused in the reception signal wiretapped by a thirdparty to thereby make it difficult to decrypt and decode the receptionsignal.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 5, in the data communication apparatus according to the secondembodiment, compared with the data communication apparatus according tothe first embodiment (FIG. 1), a data transmitting apparatus 10102further has a first data inverting part 113, and a data receivingapparatus 10202 further has a second data inverting part 213.Hereinafter, the data communication apparatus according to the secondembodiment will be explained. Since the structure of the presentembodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), theblocks performing the same operations are denoted by the same referencecharacters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The first data inverting part 113 does not fix the correspondencebetween the information of “0” and “1” that the information data has,and the Low level and the High level, and changes the correspondencesubstantially in a random fashion by a predetermined procedure. Forexample, like the multi-level encoding part 111, the first datainverting part 113 performs an exclusive OR operation with a randomnumber series (pseudo-random number sequence) generated based on apredetermined initial value, and outputs the result of the operation tothe multi-level encoding part 111. For the data outputted from themulti-level decoding part 212, the second data inverting part 213changes the correspondence between “0” and “1”, and “Low and High” in aprocedure opposite to that of the first data inverting part 113. Forexample, the second data inverting part 213 shares the same initialvalue as the initial value that the first data inverting part 113 has,performs an exclusive OR operation with the bit-inverted random numberseries generated based on this, and reproduces the result as theinformation data.

As described above, according to the present invention, a safer datacommunication apparatus can be provided in which by inverting theinformation data to be transmitted substantially in a random fashion,the complexity of the multi-level signal as a cipher is increased tomake the decryption and decoding by third parties more difficult.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 6, in the data communication apparatus according to the thirdembodiment, compared with the data communication apparatus according tothe first embodiment (FIG. 1), a data communication apparatus 10103further has a noise controlling part 114. The noise controlling part 114includes a noise generating part 114 a and a combining part 114 b.Hereinafter, the data communication apparatus according to the thirdembodiment will be explained. Since the structure of the presentembodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), theblocks performing the same operations are denoted by the same referencecharacters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The noise generating part 114 a generates a predetermined noise. Thecombining part 114 b combines the multi-level signal 13 and the noise,and outputs the resultant signal to the modulating part 112. That is,the level fluctuation of the multi-level signal 13 described in FIG. 4is deliberately caused, and the SN ratio of the multi-level signal 13 iscontrolled to an arbitrary value to thereby control the SN ratio of thesignal to be determined inputted to the multi-level discriminating part212 b. As mentioned above, as the noise caused by the noise generatingpart 114 a, the thermal noise, the quantum noise or the like is used.The multi-level signal where the noise is combined (superimposed) willbe called a noise-combined multi-level signal.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a safer datacommunication apparatus can be provided in which by encoding theinformation data to be transmitted as the multi-level signal andarbitrarily controlling the SN ratio thereof, a decisive deteriorationis deliberately caused in the reception signal quality in wiretapping bythird parties to thereby make the decryption and decoding of thereception signal more difficult.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a schematic view explaining transmission signal parameters ofa data communication apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention. The data communication apparatus according to thefourth embodiment has a structure corresponding to the structure of thefirst embodiment (FIG. 1) or the third embodiment (FIG. 6). Hereinafter,the data communication apparatus according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention will be explained by using FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1 or FIG. 6, the multi-level encoding part 111 setsthe step widths (S1 to S7) of the multi-level signal 13 in accordancewith the fluctuation amount of each level (that is, the distribution ofthe intensity of the noise combined on each level) as shown in FIG. 7.Specifically, the multi-level encoding part 111 distributes theintervals between the two adjoining signal points of the signal to bedetermined inputted to the multi-level discriminating part 212 b so thatthe SN ratios depending on the inter signal point intervalssubstantially coincide. When the noise amounts combined on the levelsare the same, the step widths are set to be the same.

When an optical intensity modulated signal with a semiconductor laser(LD) as the light source is assumed as the modulated signal outputtedfrom the modulating part 112, the fluctuation width (noise amount)varies depending on the level of the multi-level signal inputted to theLD. This is attributed to the fact that the semiconductor laser emitslight based on the principle of stimulated emission with spontaneouslyemitted light as the “seed light,” and the noise amount thereof isdefined by the relative ratio of the spontaneously emitted light amountto the stimulatingly emitted light amount. Since the higher the pumpingrate (corresponding to the bias current injected into the LD) is, thehigher the ratio of the stimulatingly emitted light amount is, the noiseamount thereof is small, and conversely, the lower the pumping rate is,the higher the ratio of the spontaneously emitted light amount is andthe larger the noise amount is. Therefore, by nonlinearly setting thestep widths so as to be large in areas where the level of themulti-level signal is low and to be small in areas where the level ishigh as shown in FIG. 7, the SN ratios of the intervals between theadjoining signal points of the signal to be determined are made tocoincide.

Even when an optically modulated signal is used as the modulated signal,under a condition where the noise due to the spontaneously emitted lightand the thermal noise used for the optical receiver are sufficientlylow, the SN ratio of the reception signal is determined mainly by shotnoise. Under this condition, since the higher the level of themulti-level signal is, the larger the noise amount is, by setting thestep width so as to be small in areas where the level of the multi-levelsignal is low and to be large in areas where the level is highconversely to the case of FIG. 7, the SN ratios of the intervals betweenthe adjoining signal points of the signal to be determined are made tocoincide.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a safer datacommunication apparatus can be provided in which by encoding theinformation data to be transmitted as the multi-level signal andsubstantially uniformly disposing the signal points within themulti-level signal amplitude or substantially uniformly setting the SNratios of the intervals between the adjoining signal points irrespectiveof the momentary level, the reception signal quality in wiretapping bythird parties is always deteriorated to make the decryption and decodingof the reception signal more difficult.

Fifth Embodiment

In the first embodiment, a data communication apparatus is explained inwhich the multi-level signal is generated by combining the informationdata to be transmitted and the multi-level code sequence generated fromthe information key. In the fifth embodiment shown below, a case will beexplained where a multi-level signal the binary determination bywiretapping by third parties of which is significantly difficult isgenerated.

First, a problem that arises with the first embodiment will be describedby using FIGS. 1 and 8 to 12. In the explanation that follows, the“inter signal point interval” refers to the difference between anarbitrary signal level that the multi-level signal or the multi-levelcode sequence can take and the adjoining signal level. FIG. 8 is a viewshowing an example of the eye pattern of the information data 10 theinformation amplitude of which is “12.” FIG. 9 is a view showing anexample of the eye pattern of the multi-level code sequence 12 outputtedform the first multi-level code generating part 111 a. In themulti-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 9, the inter signal pointintervals are substantially uniformly disposed. Moreover, themulti-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 9 is normalized by the intersignal point intervals, and the number of levels is “4” and the largestamplitude is “3.”

The multi-level processing part 111 b combines the information data 10shown in FIG. 8 and the multi-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 9 byaddition, and outputs the multi-level signal 13 having the eye patternshown in FIG. 10. In the multi-level signal 13 shown in FIG. 10, themulti-level signal amplitude is “15,” the information amplitude is “12,”and the number of levels is “8.” In the multi-level signal 13 shown inFIG. 10, an inter signal point interval a is larger than the other intersignal point intervals. That is, a condition occurs where the intersignal point intervals of the multi-level signal 13 are not uniform.

The multi-level signal 13 shown in FIG. 10 is modulated into themodulated signal 14 by the modulating part 112, and transmitted to areceiving part 11102. A noise signal such as thermal noise or quantumnoise, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 is combined on the modulatedsignal 14. FIG. 12 is a view showing the eye pattern of the modulatedsignal 14 when the noise signal shown in FIG. 11 is combined on themodulated signal 14.

Wiretapping of the modulated signal 14 by a third party will beexplained. The third party intercepts the modulated signal 14 shown inFIG. 12, and demodulates the modulated signal 14 into a multi-levelsignal. The third party tries the binary determination on the modulatedsignal 14 shown in FIG. 12. In the modulated signal 14 shown in FIG. 12,the inter signal point interval a is larger than the amplitude of thenoise signal combined on the modulated signal 14. Therefore, the thirdparty can obtain an SN ratio sufficient for the binary determination ofthe multi-level signal. Consequently, the third party can easily decodethe information data 10 from the modulated signal 14 without performinga brute force attack.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the inter signal pointintervals of the multi-level signal are not substantially uniform,wiretapping of the information data is easily performed by thirdparties. The fifth embodiment solves this problem.

The data communication apparatus according to the fifth embodiment ofthe present invention has a similar structure to the data communicationapparatus according to the first embodiment (FIG. 1). Hereinafter, thedata communication apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained by using FIGS. 1 and 13 to 19. FIG.13 is a view showing an example of the eye pattern of the informationdata 10 the information amplitude of which is “7.” The first multi-levelcode generating part 111 a performs a conversion from the first keyinformation 11 to the multi-level code sequence 12. The firstmulti-level code generating part 111 a is constituted by using a randomnumber generator such as a linear feedback register (LFSR). FIG. 14 is aview showing an example of the eye pattern of the multi-level codesequence 12 outputted from the first multi-level code generating part111 a. In the multi-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 14, the intersignal point intervals are substantially uniformly disposed. Moreover,the multi-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 14 is normalized by theinter signal point intervals, and the number of levels is “10” and thelargest amplitude is “9.” At this time, it is important that the maximumamplitude of the multi-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 14 be largerthan the information amplitude of the information data 10 shown in FIG.13.

The information data 10 shown in FIG. 13 and the multi-level codesequence 12 shown in FIG. 14 are inputted to the multi-level processingpart 111 b. The multi-level processing part 111 b adds the amplitudes ofthe information data 10 and the multi-level code sequence 12, andoutputs the multi-level signal 13. FIG. 15 shows the eye pattern of themulti-level signal 13 outputted from the multi-level processing part 111b. The multi-level signal amplitude of the multi-level signal 13 shownin FIG. 15 is “16.” The multi-level signal amplitude of the multi-levelsignal 13 corresponds to the sum of the maximum amplitude of theinformation data 10 shown in FIG. 13 and the maximum amplitude of themulti-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG. 14. At this time, since themulti-level signal amplitude is “16,” the amplitude of the multi-levelsignal 13 shown in FIG. 15 is equal to or larger than twice theinformation amplitude of the information data 10 shown in FIG. 13. Asshown in FIG. 15, all the inter signal point intervals of themulti-level signal 13 are “1.” Consequently, the multi-level signal 13shown in FIG. 15 is substantially uniform unlike the multi-level signal13 shown in FIG. 13. The inter signal point intervals of the multi-levelsignal 13 shown in FIG. 15 are all smaller than the informationamplitude “7” of the multi-level signal.

The multi-level signal 13 is modulated by the modulating part 112, andtransferred to the receiving part 11102 via the transmission path 110.At this time, for example, the noise signal shown in FIG. 16 is combinedon the modulated signal 14. FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of theeye pattern of the modulated signal 14 on which the noise signal iscombined. Since the amplitude of the noise signal is larger than theinter signal point intervals of the modulated signal 14 as shown in FIG.17, the modulated signal 14 is in a condition where a signal of anarbitrary level and the signal of the adjoining level cannot bedistinguished from each other.

The receiving part 11102 receives the modulated signal 14 via thetransmission path 110. The demodulating part 211 demodulates themodulated signal 14 to generate the multi-level signal 15, and inputs itto the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. The second multi-levelcode generating part 212 a generates the multi-level code sequence 17 byusing the second key information 16, and inputs it to the multi-leveldiscriminating part 212 b. The multi-level code sequence 17 serves asthe discrimination threshold value for the binary determination of themulti-level signal 15. The multi-level discriminating part 212 bperforms the binary determination of the multi-level signal 15 by usingthe multi-level code sequence 17. Consequently, the multi-level signal15 is decoded into the information data 18 of a binary signal as shownin FIG. 13. FIG. 18 is a view showing the relation between theinformation amplitude of the multi-level signal 15 inputted to themulti-level discriminating part 212 b and the discrimination thresholdvalue for the decoding by the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. TheSN ratio of the modulated signal 14 to the information amplitude isdeteriorated by the noise signal shown in FIG. 18. However, theamplitude of the noise signal does not exceed the discriminationthreshold value of the information amplitude of the modulated signal.For this reason, in the receiving part 11102, the multi-leveldiscriminating part 212 b can perform the discrimination andreproduction of the information data.

Next, a case will be considered where as wiretapping, a third partyintercepts the modulated signal 14 shown in FIG. 17, correctlyreproduces the modulated signal 14 into the multi-level signal 15, anddecodes the multi-level signal 15 into the information data 18. Thethird party cannot find the discrimination threshold value forperforming the binary determination from the modulated signal 14 shownin FIG. 17 like the modulated signal 14 shown in FIG. 12. For thisreason, the third party tries to decode the multi-level signal 15 byextracting the key information within a limited time by performing around-robin computation using all the combinations of multi-level codesequence or a special analysis.

A threshold value for discriminating the signal levels of the modulatedsignal 14 is used as the determination threshold value. FIG. 19 is aview showing the relation between the modulated signal 14 and thedetermination threshold value of the modulated signal 14. Since thefirst key information 11 is not shared between the third party and atransmitting part 11101, the third party cannot generate the multi-levelcode sequence 12 based on the first key information 11. Therefore, it isnecessary for the third party to perform the signal level discriminationof the multi-level signal by using all the determination thresholdvalues shown in FIG. 19. However, the inter signal point intervals ofthe multi-level signal are smaller than the information amplitude of theinformation data. For this reason, it is difficult for the third partyto determine the determination threshold value. Further, since thediscrimination between the signals of the adjoining signal levels cannotbe made because of the noise signal combined on the modulated signal 14as shown in FIG. 19, the third party cannot accurately perform thedetermination of the inter signal point intervals of the multi-levelsignal. Consequently, the third party cannot avoid a determination errorof the level of the multi-level signal when determining the signal levelof the multi-level signal. Further, since the third party tries thebinary determination on the multi-level signal obtained by the erroneousdetermination, the third party cannot decode it into the correctinformation data.

As described above, in the invention according to the present invention,a multi-level signal is generated that is twice the informationamplitude of the inputted information data and in which all the intersignal point intervals of the multi-level signal are substantiallyuniform. This multi-level signal makes it difficult for third parties todecode the information signal by the binary determination of themulti-level signal and accurately demodulate or determine the modulatedsignal. Consequently, the invention according to the present embodimentis capable of providing a transmitting apparatus that enables therealization of information transmission with high stealthiness.

While in the present embodiment, the multi-level signal 13 is generatedby the addition of the information data 10 and the multi-level codesequence 12 by the multi-level processing part 111 b, the multi-levelsignal 13 may be generated by a different method. For example, a tableon the memory may be referred to.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 20A is a block diagram showing the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 20A, the data communication apparatus according tothe sixth embodiment is constituted by connecting a data transmittingapparatus 12105 and the data receiving apparatus 10201 via thetransmission path 110. The data transmitting apparatus 12105 has themulti-level encoding part 111, the modulating part 112 and an equalizingpart 115. The multi-level encoding part 111 includes the firstmulti-level code generating part 111 a and the multi-level processingpart 111 b. The data receiving apparatus 10201 has the demodulating part211 and the multi-level decoding part 212. The multi-level decoding part212 includes the second multi-level code generating part 212 a and themulti-level discriminating part 212 b. That is, the data transmittingapparatus 12105 according to the twelfth embodiment is different fromthe data transmitting apparatus 10101 according to the first embodiment(FIG. 1) in that the equalizing part 115 is further provided.

Hereinafter, the data communication apparatus according to the sixthembodiment will be explained with respect mainly to the equalizing part115. Since the structure of the present embodiment corresponds to thatof the first embodiment (FIG. 1), the blocks performing the sameoperations are denoted by the same reference characters, anddescriptions thereof are omitted.

In the data transmitting apparatus 12105, the multi-level signal 13 (seeFIG. 2( c)) is inputted to the equalizing part 115. The equalizing part115 waveform-equalizes the inputted multi-level signal 13 by usingpredetermined means, and outputs an equalized multi-level signal 24.FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of the waveform of the equalizedmulti-level signal 24 outputted by the equalizing part 115. In FIG. 21,the dotted line represents the waveform of the multi-level signal 13inputted to the equalizing part 115. As the equalizing part 115, afilter such as a low-pass filter is used. When a low-pass filter is usedas the equalizing part 115 and the high-frequency region of themulti-level signal 13 is bandwidth-shaped, an intersymbol interferenceoccurs because the response time related to the transition between themultiple levels of the multi-level signal 13 is limited. In such a case,the equalized multi-level signal 24 cannot transit to the multiplelevels (L1, L8, L6, L4, L4, and L2) of the multi-level signal 13 at thepredetermined time slots (t1, t2, t3, t4, t5, and t6) as shown in FIG.21, and is outputted from the equalizing part 115 as a signal where alevel fluctuation occurs. The equalized multi-level signal 24 isinputted to the modulating part 112.

The modulating part 112 converts the equalized multi-level signal 24into a signal format suitable for the transmission path 110, andtransmits the modulated signal 14 to the transmission path 110. Forexample, when the transmission path 110 is an optical transmission line,the modulating part 112 converts the equalized multi-level signal 24into an optical signal.

In the data receiving apparatus 10201, the demodulating part 211receives the modulated signal 14 via the transmission path 110. Thedemodulating part 211 demodulates the modulated signal 14, and outputsan equalized multi-level signal 25. The equalized multi-level signal 25is inputted to the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. Themulti-level discriminating part 212 b performs the discrimination of theequalized multi-level signal 25 by using the multi-level code sequence17. FIG. 22( a) is a view explaining the discrimination of the equalizedmulti-level signal 25 in the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. InFIG. 22( a), the thick solid line represents an example of the waveformof the equalized multi-level signal 25, the thin solid line representsan example of the waveform of the multi-level code sequence 17, and thedotted line represents an example of the waveform of the multi-levelsignal 13.

Referring to FIG. 22( a), the multi-level discriminating part 212 bperforms the discrimination (binary determination) of the equalizedmulti-level signal 24 with the multi-level code sequence 17 as thethreshold value, and reproduces the information data 18. That is, themulti-level discriminating part 212 b can discriminate the multi-levelsignal 13, within a range where the deterioration (the amount of levelfluctuation) of the equalized multi-level signal 25 does not exceed thediscrimination level, with the multi-level code sequence 17 as thediscrimination level also when the multi-level signal 13 where a levelfluctuation occurs due to the intersymbol interference involved in thebandwidth shaping (that is, the equalized multi-level signal 25) isreceived.

Next, wiretapping of the modulated signal 14 by a third party will beexplained. It is considered that like the case explained in the firstembodiment, the third party receives and decrypts the modulated signal14 by using a structure corresponding to the data receiving apparatus10201 that the authorized user has or a higher-performance datareceiving apparatus (wiretapper data receiving apparatus). However,since the first key information 11 is not shared between the wiretapperdata receiving apparatus and the data transmitting apparatus 10101, thewiretapper data receiving apparatus cannot perform the discrimination(binary determination) of the equalized multi-level signal 25 withreference to the multi-level code sequence 17 generated from the keyinformation like the data receiving apparatus 10201.

In such a case, it is considered that the wiretapper data receivingapparatus tries to reproduce the correct key information or theinformation data 18 by discriminating the equalized multi-level signal25 by using a brute force attack. FIG. 22( b) is a view explaining thediscrimination of the equalized multi-level signal 25 by the wiretapperdata receiving apparatus. In FIG. 22( b), the thick solid linerepresents an example of the waveform of the equalized multi-levelsignal 25, the thick dotted line represents an example of the waveformof the multi-level signal 13, and the thin dotted lines represent aplurality of discrimination levels for discriminating the multi-levelsignal 13.

When a brute force attack is performed, since the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus does not know the discrimination level of theequalized multi-level signal 25 based on the multi-level code sequence17, it is necessary for it to accurately discriminate and reproduce themulti-level signal 13 from the equalized multi-level signal 25 by usingthe discrimination levels represented by the thin dotted lines in FIG.22( b) and then, analyze the correct key information and the informationdata 18. However, in the equalized multi-level signal 25, a levelfluctuation occurs due to the intersymbol interference involved in thebandwidth shaping, for example, in the circled parts in FIG. 22( b), anda multi-level transition different from that of the multi-level signal13 is exhibited. For this reason, when the equalized multi-level signal25 is discriminated and reproduced by the wiretapper data receivingapparatus by using a plurality of discrimination levels, a symbol error(or a code error) for the multi-level signal 13 is unavoidable, andfurther, it is difficult to analyze the correction key information andthe information data 18.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a levelfluctuation is caused in the multi-level signal 13 by the multi-levelsignal 15, and the equalized multi-level signal 24 is outputted.Consequently, third parties (wiretapper data receiving apparatuses) notsharing the key information (the first key information 11 and the secondkey information 16) cannot accurately discriminate and reproduce themulti-level signal 13 from the equalized multi-level signal 25 which isthe modulated signal 14 that is demodulated, so that the decryption by abrute force attack or the like is difficult. Therefore, the inventionaccording to the present embodiment is capable of providing a datacommunication apparatus that enables information transmission withhigher stealthiness than the data communication apparatus according tothe first embodiment.

While in the present embodiment, the equalizing part 115 is connectedbetween the multi-level encoding part 111 and the modulating part 112,the connection position is not limited thereto. For example, theequalizing part 115 may be connected to the input side of theinformation data 10 of the multi-level processing part 111 b so that thewaveform-equalized information data 10 is outputted to the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b (see FIG. 20B).

Moreover, the equalizing part 115 may be connected between the firstmulti-level code generating part 111 a and the multi-level processingpart 111 b (see FIG. 20C). In this case, the equalizing part 115waveform-equalizes the multi-level code sequence 12, and outputs theequalized multi-level code sequence to the multi-level processing part111 b. Moreover, the equalizing part 115 may be connected to the outputside of the modulating part 112 and waveform-equalize the modulatedsignal 14 (see FIG. 20D). The data communication apparatus according tothe present embodiment is capable of performing information transmissionwith high stealthiness when the equalizing part 115 is connected to anyof the positions mentioned above.

It is desirable that the low-pass filter used as the equalizing part 115be a low-pass filter that filters signal components of equal to or lowerthan half the frequency band of the inputted signal. For example, when asignal component of equal to or higher than half the inputtedmulti-level signal 13 is filtered, the equalizing part 115 (low-passfilter) outputs the equalized multi-level signal 24 where the multiplelevels are largely fluctuated due to the intersymbol interference. Inthis case, it is difficult for the data receiving apparatus 10201 todiscriminate the equalized multi-level signal 25 demodulated from themodulated signal 14.

Moreover, a high-pass filter may be used as the equalizing part 115. Inthis case, the data communication apparatus according to the presentembodiment can produce similar effects to those produced when a low-passfilter is used, by intercepting the direct-current component or alow-frequency component of the signal inputted to the equalizing part115 to thereby cause an intersymbol interference involved in thedrifting of the average value in the signal outputted from theequalizing part 115.

Moreover, a band-pass filter may be used as the equalizing part 115. Inthis case, the data communication apparatus according to the presentembodiment can produce similar effects to those produced when a low-passfilter is used, by filtering the signal component of a predeterminedfrequency band of the signal inputted to the equalizing part 115.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 23, the data communication apparatus according to theseventh embodiment is different from that according to the sixthembodiment in the structure of a data transmitting apparatus 12106. Thedata transmitting apparatus 12106 according to the seventh embodimenthas the first multi-level code generating part 111 a, the equalizingpart 115, a first modulating part 116, and a second modulating part 117.Since the structure of the present embodiment corresponds to that of thesixth embodiment (FIG. 20A), the blocks performing the same operationsare denoted by the same reference characters, and descriptions thereofare omitted.

In FIG. 23, to the equalizing part 115, the multi-level code sequence 12is inputted from the first multi-level code generating part 111 a. Theequalizing part 115 waveform-equalizes the multi-level code sequence 12by predetermined means, and outputs an equalized multi-level codesequence 27. The equalized multi-level code sequence 27 is inputted tothe first modulating part 116. The first modulating part 116 modulatesthe equalized multi-level code sequence 27 in a predetermined modulationformat, and outputs a first modulated signal 28. Specifically, the firstmodulating part 116, for example, amplitude-modulates the equalizedmulti-level code sequence 27 to thereby output the first modulatedsignal 28.

The first modulated signal 28 is inputted to the second modulating part117. Moreover, the information data 10 is inputted to the secondmodulating part 117. The second modulating part 117 modulates the firstmodulated signal 28 and the information data 10 in a predeterminedmodulation format, and outputs a second modulated signal 29. Forexample, the second modulating part 117 adds the first modulated signal28 and the information data 10 or amplitude-modulates the level of thefirst modulated signal 28 by the information data 10 to output thesecond modulated signal 29.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the equalizingpart 115 causes a level fluctuation in the multi-level code sequence 12by the intersymbol interference, and outputs the equalized multi-levelcode sequence 27. Then, the first modulating part 116 outputs the firstmodulated signal 28 of the predetermined modulation format based on theequalized multi-level code sequence 27, and the second modulating part117 modulates the first modulated signal 28 based on the informationdata 10 and outputs the second modulated signal 29 of the predeterminedmodulation format. Consequently, it is more difficult for third partiesnot sharing the key information (the first key information 11 and thesecond key information) to extract the information data 10 from theequalized multi-level signal 25 which is the equalized multi-levelsignal 25 that is demodulated. Thus, the invention according to thepresent embodiment is capable of providing a data communicationapparatus that enables information transmission with high stealthinesslike the data transmitting apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

The data communication apparatus according to the seventh embodiment(FIG. 23) may have a different structure. FIG. 24 is a block diagramshowing another example of the structure of the data communicationapparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 24, to the equalizing part 115, the multi-level code sequence 12is inputted from the first multi-level code generating part 111 a. Theequalizing part 115 waveform-equalizes the multi-level code sequence 12by predetermined means, and outputs the equalized multi-level codesequence 27. The first modulating part 116 modulates the informationdata 10, and outputs the first modulated signal 28 of the predeterminedmodulation format. The equalized multi-level code sequence 27 and thefirst modulated signal 28 are inputted to the second modulating part117. The second modulating part 117 outputs the second modulated signal29 of the predetermined format based on the equalized multi-level codesequence 27 and the first modulated signal 28. Specifically, the secondmodulating part 117 adds the equalized multi-level code sequence 27 andthe first modulated signal 28 or amplitude-modulates the level of thefirst modulated signal 28 by the equalized multi-level code sequence 27to output the second modulated signal 29. In this case, the inventionaccording to the present embodiment is also capable of providing a datacommunication apparatus that enables information transmission with highstealthiness like the data communication apparatus according to thesixth embodiment.

In the data communication apparatus according to the seventh embodiment(FIGS. 23 and 24), like the sixth embodiment, as long as a levelfluctuation is caused in the equalized multi-level signal 25, theequalizing part 115 may be inserted or connected in any position of thedata transmitting apparatuses 12106 and 12106 b. In FIG. 23, the datatransmitting apparatus 12106 may have a structure such that theequalizing part 115 is connected in the preceding stage of the secondmodulating part 117 to cause a predetermined level fluctuation in theinformation data 10. Moreover, the data transmitting apparatus 12106 mayhave a structure such that the equalizing part 115 is connected in thesucceeding stage of the first modulating part 116 to cause apredetermined level fluctuation in the first modulated signal 28.Moreover, in FIG. 24, the data transmitting apparatus 12106 b may have,for example, a structure such that the equalizing part 115 is connectedin the preceding stage of the first modulating part 116 to cause apredetermined level fluctuation in the information data 10. Moreover,the data transmitting apparatus 12106 b may have a structure such thatthe equalizing part 115 is connected in the succeeding stage of thesecond modulating part 117 to cause a predetermined level fluctuation inthe second modulated signal 29. In any of the structures, the datacommunication apparatus according to the seventh embodiment can make itdifficult to discriminate the equalized multi-level signal 25discriminated by wiretapper receiving apparatuses.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 25, the data communication apparatus according to theeighth embodiment is different from the data communication apparatusaccording to the first embodiment (FIG. 1) in that a data transmittingapparatus 14105 further has an amplitude controlling part 120. Theamplitude controlling part 120 includes a first amplitude control signalgenerating part 120 a and an amplitude modulating part 120 b.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view for explaining the signal waveforms of partsof the data communication apparatus according to the eighth embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 26( a) shows an example of the waveformof the information data 10. FIG. 26( b) shows an example of the waveformof amplitude-modulated information data 36 outputted from the amplitudemodulating part 120 b. The dotted line in FIG. 26( b) represents thewaveform of the information data 10 shown in FIG. 26( a). FIG. 26( c)shows an example of the waveform of the multi-level code sequence 12outputted from the first multi-level code generating part 111 a. FIG.26( d) shows an example of the waveform of the multi-level signal 13outputted from the multi-level processing part 111 b. The dotted line inFIG. 26( d) represents the waveform of the multi-level signal 13 shownin FIG. 26( c). The operation of the data communication apparatusaccording to the eighth embodiment will be explained by using FIG. 26.Since the structure of the present embodiment corresponds to that of thefirst embodiment (FIG. 1), the blocks performing the same operations aredenoted by the same reference characters, and descriptions thereof areomitted.

In the data transmitting apparatus 14105, the first key information 11is inputted to the first amplitude control signal generating part 120 a.Based on the first key information 11, the first amplitude controlsignal generating part 120 a generates an amplitude control signal 35the value of which varies substantially like a random number. Theamplitude control signal 35 is inputted to the amplitude modulating part120 b. The information data 10 (FIG. 26( a)) is inputted to theamplitude modulating part 120 b. The amplitude modulating part 120 bperforms a substantially random amplitude modulation on the informationdata 10 (FIG. 26( a)) based on the amplitude control signal 35, andoutputs the amplitude-modulated information data 36 (FIG. 26( b)). Asshown in FIGS. 26( a) and 26(b), by using, as the reference level R, theamplitude center level of the information data 10 which is the originalsignal, the amplitude modulating part 120 b performs the amplitudemodulation within a range not changing the polarity.

The amplitude-modulated information data 36 (FIG. 26( b)) and themulti-level code sequence 12 (FIG. 26( c)) are inputted to themulti-level processing part 111 b. The multi-level processing part 111 bgenerates the multi-level signal 13 (FIG. 26( d)) by regarding the levelof the multi-level code sequence 12 as the bias level for the referencelevel R of the amplitude-modulated information data 36 and adding themulti-level code sequence 12 and the amplitude-modulated informationdata 36.

In the data receiving apparatus 10201, the multi-level discriminatingpart 212 b receives the multi-level signal 15 from the demodulating part211. The multi-level discriminating part 212 b performs thediscrimination (binary determination) of the multi-level signal 15 byusing, as the threshold value (reference level), the multi-level codesequence 17 generated based on the second key information 16 the same asthe first key information 11 (the same as FIG. 26( c)). Here, theamplitude modulating part 120 b does not change the polarity of theoriginal signal (information data 10) as mentioned above. For thisreason, the multi-level discriminating part 212 b can correctlyreproduce the information data 18 by performing the discrimination withreference to the multi-level code sequence 17 equal to the multi-levelcode sequence 12.

Next, wiretapping of the modulated signal by a third party will beexplained. As mentioned above, it is considered that the third partydecrypts the modulated signal by using a structure corresponding to thedata receiving apparatus 10201 or a higher-performance data receivingapparatus (wiretapper data receiving apparatus). The wiretapper datareceiving apparatus reproduces the multi-level signal by demodulatingthe modulated signal 14. However, since the key information is notshared between the wiretapper data receiving apparatus and the datatransmitting apparatus 10101, the wiretapper data receiving apparatuscannot generate the multi-level code sequence from the key informationlike the data receiving apparatus 10201. For this reason, the wiretapperdata receiving apparatus cannot perform the binary determination of themulti-level signal with reference to the multi-level code sequence.

Wiretapping considered to be performed in such a case includessimultaneously discriminating all the levels of the multi-level signal(generally called “brute force attack”). That is, the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus is provided with threshold values for all the intersignal point intervals that the multi-level signal can take, performsthe simultaneous determination of the multi-level signal, and analyzesthe result of the determination to thereby try to extract the correctkey information or information data. For example, the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus tries to extract the correct key information orinformation data by performing the multi-level determination on themulti-level signal by using, as the threshold values, the levels c0, c1,c2, c3, c4, c5 and c6 of the multi-level code sequence 12 shown in FIG.2.

However, as mentioned above, noise is caused by various factors inactual transmission systems, and since this noise is combined on themodulated signal, the level of the multi-level signal fluctuates withtime and momentarily as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, in the presentembodiment, the substantially random amplitude modulation is performedon the multi-level signal based on the first key information 11 (thatis, the amplitude control signal 35). FIG. 27 is a schematic viewexplaining the transmission signal quality of the data communicationapparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 27, the level fluctuation width (fluctuation amount) ofthe multi-level signal received by the data receiving apparatus 10201and the wiretapper data receiving apparatus is larger than that in thefirst embodiment.

Since the SN ratio of the signal to be determined (multi-level signal)determined by the wiretapper data receiving apparatus depends on theratio between the step width and the fluctuation amount of themulti-level signal, the SN ratio is further reduced by the effect of theamplitude modulation performed based on the amplitude control signal 35.Consequently, the data communication apparatus according to the presentembodiment can make wiretapping difficult by inducing a large number ofdiscrimination errors in the third party's brute force attack using allthe threshold values. In particular, in the data communicationapparatus, by setting the level fluctuation width by the amplitudemodulation so as to be equal to or larger than the step width of themulti-level signal, the multi-level determination by third parties ismade virtually impossible to thereby realize ideal wiretappingprevention, so that absolute safety in data communication can beensured.

The amplitude controlling part 120 may be inserted or connected in anyposition different from that of FIG. 25 as long as a level fluctuationis caused in the multi-level signal 15 determined by the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus and the SN ratio can be controlled. For example, asshown in FIG. 28, the data communication apparatus may have a structuresuch that the amplitude controlling part 120 is inserted between themulti-level encoding part 111 and the modulating part 112 to cause apredetermined level fluctuation in the multi-level signal 13.

Moreover, for example, as shown in FIG. 29, the data communicationapparatus may have a structure such that the amplitude controlling part120 is connected in the succeeding stage of the modulating part 112 tocause a level fluctuation in the modulated signal 14. In this case, theamplitude modulating part 120 b amplitude-modulates orintensity-modulates the modulated signal 14 according to the kind of thesignal transmitted via the transmission path 110. In any of thestructures, the data communication apparatus according to the eighthembodiment is capable of controlling the SN ratio of the signal to bedetermined (multi-level signal) at the time of the multi-leveldetermination to a given value.

While the first amplitude control signal generating part 120 a generatesthe amplitude control signal 35 based on the first key information 11inputted to the first multi-level code generating part 111 a in FIG. 25,it may generate the amplitude control signal 35 based on predeterminedfirst amplitude control key information 38 different from the first keyinformation 11 as shown in FIG. 30. Thereby, the correlation between thelevel change of the multi-level code sequence 12 and the amplitudemodulation by the amplitude modulating part 120 b is suppressed tothereby make the level change of the multi-level signal 13 more random,so that more ideal discrimination errors can be induced in themulti-level determination by the wiretapper data receiving apparatus.

In actuality, there are cases where the amplitude modulation by theamplitude modulating part 120 b deteriorates the SN ratio of the signalto be determined the discrimination (binary determination) of which isperformed by the data receiving apparatus 10201 of the authorizedreceiver. To suppress such an effect of the amplitude modulation, thestructure of the data receiving apparatus 10201 may be changed. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 31, in a data receiving apparatus 14205 d, amulti-level decoding part 218 may include a second amplitude controlsignal generating part 212 c in addition to the second multi-level codegenerating part 212 a and the multi-level discriminating part 212 b.That is, the second amplitude control signal generating part 212 cpreviously shares second amplitude control key information 39 the sameas the first amplitude control key information 38, and generates anamplitude control signal 40 corresponding to the amplitude controlsignal 35 based on the second amplitude control key information 39. Themulti-level discriminating part 212 b performs the optimumdiscrimination (binary determination) of the multi-level signal 15 byusing as the threshold value the multi-level code sequence 17 outputtedfrom the second multi-level code generating part 212 a and whilemonitoring the momentary level or the SN ratio of the multi-level signal15 by the amplitude control signal 40, thereby reproducing theinformation data 18.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a safer datacommunication apparatus can be provided in which by encoding theinformation data to be transmitted as the multi-level signal andarbitrarily controlling the fluctuation level (fluctuation amount)thereof, a decisive deterioration is deliberately caused in thereception signal quality in wiretapping by third parties to thereby makethe decryption and decoding of the reception signal more difficult.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 32A is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of thedata communication apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of thepresent invention. The data communication apparatus according to thepresent embodiment realizes, by a different structure, the conversion tothe modulated signal 14 based on the multi-level code sequence 12 andthe amplitude-modulated information data 36 which conversion isperformed by the multi-level processing part 111 b and the modulatingpart 112 (see FIG. 25) in the eighth embodiment. In FIG. 32A, the datacommunication apparatus according to the ninth embodiment is constitutedby connecting a data transmitting apparatus 14106 and the data receivingapparatus 10201 via the transmission path 110. The data transmittingapparatus 14106 has the first multi-level code generating part 111 a,the amplitude controlling part 120, a first modulating part 122, asecond modulating part 123, and a multiplexing part 124. The amplitudecontrolling part 120 includes the first amplitude control signalgenerating part 120 a and the amplitude modulating part 120 b.

Since the structure of the present embodiment corresponds to that of theeighth embodiment (FIG. 25), the blocks performing the same operationsare denoted by the same reference characters, and descriptions thereofare omitted. In FIG. 32A, with the multi-level code sequence 12outputted from the first multi-level code generating part 111 a as theoriginal data, the first modulating part 122 converts it into apredetermined modulation format, and outputs a first modulated signal41. With the amplitude-modulated information data 36 outputted from theamplitude modulating part 120 b as the original data, the secondmodulating part 123 converts it into a predetermined modulation format,and outputs a second modulated signal 42. The first modulated signal 41and the second modulated signal 42 are inputted to the multiplexing part124. The multiplexing part 124 amplitude- or intensity-combines thefirst modulated signal 41 and the second modulated signal 42, andtransmits the composite signal to the transmission path 110. That is,the data communication apparatus according to the ninth embodimentrealizes a circuit structure with high flexibility by performing theconversion to the modulated signal 14 based on the multi-level codesequence 12 and the amplitude-modulated information data 36 whichconversion is performed by the multi-level processing part 111 b and themodulating part 112 in FIG. 25, by the first modulating part 122, thesecond modulating part 123 and the multiplexing part 124 at themodulated signal level.

While in the data communication apparatus according to the ninthembodiment (FIG. 32A), the first modulating part 122 and the secondmodulating part 123 are placed in parallel and the first modulatedsignal 41 and the second modulated signal 42 are multiplexed, adifferent structure may be adopted. FIG. 32B is a block diagram showinganother example of the structure of the data communication apparatusaccording to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 32B, the data communication apparatus according to the presentembodiment may have a structure such that the first modulating part 122and the second modulating part 123 are connected in series and the samecarrier wave is modulated by the first modulating part 122 and thesecond modulating part 123. The first modulating part 122 modulates thecarrier wave by the multi-level code sequence 12 and outputs the firstmodulated signal 41, and the second modulating part 123 modulates thefirst modulated signal 41 by the amplitude-modulated information data36. That is, the data communication apparatus of this structure performsthe conversion to the modulated signal 14 based on the multi-level codesequence 12 and the amplitude-modulated information data 36 whichconversion is performed by the multi-level processing part 111 b and themodulating part 112 in FIG. 25, by the first modulating part 122 and thesecond modulating part 123 at the modulated signal level.

In the data transmitting apparatus 14106 of FIG. 32A, the firstmodulated signal 41 and the second modulated signal 42 are addedtogether by the multiplexing part 124. On the contrary, in a datatransmitting apparatus 14106 b of FIG. 32B, the signals are integratedtogether by the first modulating part 122 and the second modulating part123. For this reason, although in the data transmitting apparatus 14106b of FIG. 32B, the waveform of the generated modulated signal 14 isslightly different from that in the data transmitting apparatus 14106 ofFIG. 32A, a substantially similar effect can be obtained in that thelevel that the amplitude-modulated information data 36 has is combinedwith reference to the level of the multi-level code sequence 12.

Moreover, in the data communication apparatus according to the ninthembodiment, like the eighth embodiment, as long as a level fluctuationis caused in the multi-level signal 15 determined by the wiretapper datareceiving apparatus and the SN ratio of the multi-level signal can becontrolled, the amplitude controlling part 120 may be inserted orconnected in any position different from that in FIG. 32A or 33B. Forexample, in FIG. 32A or 32B, the data communication apparatus accordingto the ninth embodiment may have a structure such that the amplitudecontrolling part 120 is inserted in the preceding stage of the firstmodulating part 122 to cause a predetermined level fluctuation in themulti-level code sequence 12 (see FIGS. 33A and 33B). Moreover, the datacommunication apparatus according to the ninth embodiment may have astructure such that the amplitude controlling part 120 is connected inthe succeeding stage of the first modulating part 122 or the secondmodulating part 123 or in the succeeding stage of the multiplexing part124 to cause a level fluctuation in the first modulated signal 41 andthe second modulated signal 42, or a composite signal thereof. In any ofthe structures, the data communication apparatus according to the ninthembodiment is capable of controlling the SN ratio of the signal to bedetermined (multi-level signal) at the time of the multi-leveldetermination to a given value.

Further, in the data communication apparatus according to the ninthembodiment, the first amplitude control signal generating part 120 a maygenerate the amplitude control signal based on the predetermined firstamplitude control key information 38 different from the first keyinformation 11 like FIG. 30. Thereby, in the data communicationapparatus according to the ninth embodiment, the correlation between thelevel change of the multi-level code sequence 12 and the amplitudemodulation by the amplitude modulating part 120 b is suppressed tothereby make the level change of the multi-level signal 15 more random,so that more ideal discrimination errors can be induced in themulti-level determination by the wiretapper data receiving apparatus.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a safer datacommunication apparatus can be provided in which by encoding theinformation data to be transmitted as the multi-level signal andarbitrarily controlling the fluctuation level (fluctuation amount)thereof and by providing an individual modulating part for each of theinformation data and the multi-level code sequence, a decisivedeterioration is deliberately caused in the reception signal quality inwiretapping by third parties with a more flexible structure to therebymake the decryption and decoding of the reception signal more difficult.

Tenth Embodiment

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 34, the data communication apparatus according to the tenthembodiment is different from the data communication apparatus accordingto the first embodiment (FIG. 1) in that a data transmitting apparatus16105 further has a base N encoding part 131 and a data receivingapparatus 106205 further has a base N decoding part 220.

Hereinafter, the data communication apparatus according to the tenthembodiment will be explained with respect mainly to the base N encodingpart 131 and the base N decoding part 220. Since the structure of thepresent embodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1),the blocks performing the same operations are denoted by the samereference characters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In the data transmitting apparatus 16105, an information data groupincluding a plurality of pieces of information data is inputted to thebase N encoding part 131. It is assumed that first information data 50and second information data 51 are inputted as the information datagroup. FIG. 35 is a view showing examples of the waveform of theinformation data group inputted to the base N encoding part 131. FIG.35( a) shows the first information data 50 inputted to the base Nencoding part 131. FIG. 35( b) shows the second information data 51inputted to the base N encoding part 131.

The base N encoding part 131 encodes the first information data 50 andthe second information data 51 into a base N (in this example, N=4)number to thereby output them as a base N encoded signal 52 havingpredetermined multiple levels. N is an arbitrary natural number.Thereby, the base N encoding part 131 can increase, by log 2N times, theamount of information that can be transmitted per time slot. FIG. 36 isa view showing an example of the waveform of the base N encoded signal52 outputted from the base N encoding part 131. Referring to FIG. 36,for example, the base N encoding part 131 can output the base N encodedsignal 52 having multiple levels of four steps by assigning a multiplelevel 00 when the combination of logics in the first information data 50and the second information data 51 is {L, L}, a multiple level 01 whenthe combination is {L, H}, a multiple level 10 when the combination is{H, L}, and a multiple level 11 when the combination is {H, H}. The baseN encoded signal 52 outputted from the base N encoding part 131 and themulti-level code sequence 12 outputted from the first multi-level codegenerating part 111 a (see FIG. 2( b)) are inputted to the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b.

The multi-level processing part 111 b combines the base N encoded signal52 and the multi-level code sequence 12 by a predetermined procedure,and outputs the composite signal as the multi-level signal 13. Forexample, the multi-level processing part 111 b generates the multi-levelsignal 13 by adding the base N encoded signal 52 with the level of themulti-level code sequence 12 as the bias level. Alternatively, themulti-level processing part 111 b may generate the multi-level signal 13by amplitude-modulating the multi-level code sequence 12 by the base Nencoded signal 52. FIG. 37 is a view showing an example of the waveformof the multi-level signal 13 outputted from the multi-level processingpart 111 b. In FIG. 37, the multiple levels of the multi-level signal 13fluctuate in four steps at predetermined level intervals (in this case,intervals of three levels). The dotted lines show the ranges where themultiple levels of the multi-level signal 13 fluctuate, with referenceto the bias level (multi-level code sequence 12).

The multi-level signal 13 outputted from the multi-level processing part111 b is inputted to the modulating part 112. The modulating part 112modulates the multi-level signal 13 into a signal format suitable forthe transmission path 110, and transmits the modulated signal to thetransmission path 110 as the modulated signal 14. For example, when thetransmission path 110 is an optical transmission line, the modulatingpart 12 converts the multi-level signal 13 into an optical signal.

In a data receiving apparatus 16205, the demodulating part 211 receivesthe modulated signal 14 via the transmission path 110. The demodulatingpart 211 demodulates the modulated signal 14, and outputs themulti-level signal 15. The multi-level signal 15 is inputted to themulti-level discriminating part 212 b. The multi-level discriminatingpart 212 b discriminates the multi-level signal 15 by use of themulti-level code sequence 17 outputted from the second multi-level codegenerating part 212 a to thereby output a base N encoded signal 53. FIG.38 is a view explaining an example of the discrimination of themulti-level signal 15 by the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. InFIG. 38, the thick solid line represent the waveform of the multi-levelsignal 15, and the thin solid line and the dotted lines represent thedetermination waveforms for discriminating the multi-level signal 15.The thin solid line (determination waveform 2) is the waveform of themulti-level code sequence 17.

Referring to FIG. 38, the multi-level discriminating part 212 bgenerates a waveform (determination waveform 1) which is the multi-levelcode sequence 17 that is shifted upward by a predetermined levelinterval with the multi-level code sequence (determination waveform 2)as the center and a waveform (determination waveform 3) which is themulti-level code sequence 17 that is shifted downward by thepredetermined level interval with the multi-level code sequence 17 asthe center. The predetermined level interval is predetermined betweenthe multi-level discriminating part 212 b and the multi-level processingpart 111 b in the data transmitting apparatus 16105, and in thisexample, it is an interval of three levels. The multi-leveldiscriminating part 212 b discriminates the multi-level signal 151 byusing the determination waveforms 1 to 3.

At the time slot t1, the multi-level discriminating part 212 b comparesthe determination waveform 1 and the multi-level signal 15, anddetermines that the multi-level signal 15 is lower in level than thedetermination waveform 1. Moreover, the multi-level discriminating part212 b compares the determination waveform 2 and the multi-level signal15, and determines that the multi-level signal 15 is lower in level thanthe determination waveform 2. Moreover, the multi-level discriminatingpart 212 b compares the determination waveform 3 and the multi-levelsignal 15, and determines that the multi-level signal 15 is higher inlevel than the determination waveform 3. That is, the multi-leveldiscriminating part 212 b determines that the multi-level signal 15 is{Low, Low, High} at the time slot t1. Likewise, at the time slot t2, themulti-level discriminating part 212 b determines that the multi-levelsignal 15 is {Low, High, High} at the time slot t2, and determines thatthe multi-level signal 15 is {Low, Low, Low} at the time slot t3.Although omitted, the operations at the time slot t4 and subsequent timeslots are similar.

Then, the multi-level discriminating part 212 b associates the numbersof Low's and High's in the determination with the multiple levels of thebase N encoded signal 52 to thereby reproduce the base N encoded signal52. For example, by associating {Low, Low, Low} with the multiple level00, {Low, Low, High} with the multiple level 01, {Low, High, High} withthe multiple level 10, and {High, High, High} with the multiple level11, the multi-level discriminating part 212 b can reproduce the base Nencoded signal 53. The base N encoded signal 53 reproduced by themulti-level discriminating part 212 b is inputted to the base N decodingpart 220.

The base N decoding part 220 decodes the base N encoded signal 52, andoutputs it as the information data group. Specifically, the base Ndecoding part 220 performs an operation opposite to that performed bythe base N encoding part 131 to thereby output first information data 54and second information data 55 from the base N encoded signal 52.

Next, wiretapping of the modulated signal 14 by a third party will beexplained. Since the first key information 11 is not shared between thethird party and the data transmitting apparatus 16105 like the casedescribed in the first embodiment, the third party cannot reproduce thefirst information data 54 and the second information data 55 from thewiretapped modulated signal 14. In actual transmission systems, noise iscaused by various factors, and this noise is combined on the modulatedsignal 14. That is, noise is combined also on the multi-level signal 15which is the modulated signal 14 that is demodulated. FIG. 39 is a viewshowing the waveform of the multi-level signal 15 on which noise iscombined. Referring to FIG. 39, the data communication apparatusaccording to the tenth embodiment can make wiretapping more difficult byinducing discrimination errors in the third party's brute force attackusing all the threshold values because of the noise combined on themulti-level signal 15 like the case described in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the present invention, the base Nencoding part 131 converts the information data group all together intothe base N encoded signal 52, and the base N decoding part 220reproduces the information data group all together from the base Nencoded signal 53. Thereby, in the data communication apparatusaccording to the present embodiment, the amount of information that canbe transmitted per time slot can be made larger than in the datacommunication apparatus according to the first embodiment. Moreover, byconverting the information data group into the base N encoded signal 52,data transmission with higher stealthiness can be realized.

Eleventh Embodiment

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a datacommunication apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of thepresent invention. In FIG. 40, the data communication apparatusaccording to the eleventh embodiment is different from that of the tenthembodiment (FIG. 34) in the operations of the base N encoding part 132and the base N decoding part 221. In the eleventh embodiment, the base Nencoding part 132 generates the base N encoded signal 52 from theinformation data group based on the first key information 11. Moreover,the base N decoding part 221 generates the information data group fromthe base N encoded signal 53 based on the second key information 16.Hereinafter, the data communication apparatus according to the eleventhembodiment will be explained with respect mainly to the base N encodingpart 132 and the base N decoding part 221. Since the structure of thepresent embodiment corresponds to that of the tenth embodiment (FIG.34), the blocks performing the same operations are denoted by the samereference characters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In a data transmitting apparatus 16106, the first key information 11 isinputted to the base N encoding part 132. The base N encoding part 132generates the base N encoded signal 52 from the information data groupbased on the first key information 11. For example, the base N encodingpart 132 changes the correspondence between the combination of logics inthe first information data 50 and the second information data 51 and themultiple levels of the base N encoded signal 52 by the first keyinformation 11. The base N encoded signal 52 outputted from the base Nencoding part 132 is inputted to the multi-level processing part 111 b.

In a data receiving apparatus 16206, the base N encoded signal 53outputted from the multi-level discriminating part 212 b is inputted tothe base N decoding part 221. Moreover, the second key information 16 isinputted to the base N decoding part 221. The base N decoding part 221outputs the information data group from the base N encoded signal 53based on the second key information 16. Specifically, the base Ndecoding part 221 performs an operation opposite to that performed bythe base N encoding part 132 to thereby output the first informationdata 54 and the second information data 55 from the base N encodedsignal 53.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the base Nencoding part 132 generates the base N encoded signal 52 from theinformation data group based on the first key information 11, and thebase N decoding part 221 reproduces the information data group from thebase N encoded signal 53 based on the second key information 16 by theoperation opposite to that performed by the base N encoding part 132.Thereby, the data communication apparatus according to the presentembodiment can realize data communication the wiretapping of which ismore difficult than in the data communication apparatus according to thetenth embodiment.

In the data communication apparatus according to the eleventhembodiment, the base N encoding part 132 may generate the base N encodedsignal 52 from the information data group by using third key information56 different from the first key information 11. Likewise, the base Ndecoding part 221 may reproduce the information data group from the baseN encoded signal 53 by using fourth key information 57 different fromthe second key information 16 (see FIG. 41). Here, the third keyinformation 56 and the fourth key information 57 are the same keyinformation. Thereby, in the data communication apparatus according tothe present embodiment, the key information used by the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b and the key information used by the base Nencoding part 132 can be made separate, so that data communication thewiretapping of which is more difficult can be realized.

Twelfth Embodiment

FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 42, the data communication apparatus according to the twelfthembodiment is different from that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1) inthat a data transmitting apparatus 19105 further has a synchronoussignal generating part 134 and a multi-level processing controlling part135 and a data receiving apparatus 19205 further has a synchronoussignal reproducing part 233 and a multi-level discrimination controllingpart 234.

FIG. 43 is a schematic view for explaining the signal waveform outputtedfrom the multi-level encoding part 111. Hereinafter, the datacommunication apparatus according to the fifth embodiment will beexplained by using FIGS. 42 and 43. Since the structure of the presentembodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), theblocks performing the same operations are denoted by the same referencecharacters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In FIG. 42, the synchronous signal generating part 134 generates asynchronous signal 64 of a predetermined period, and outputs it to themulti-level processing controlling part 135. The multi-level processingcontrolling part 135 generates a multi-level processing control signal65 based on the synchronous signal 64, and outputs it to the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b. The multi-level processing control signal 65 is asignal that specifies the number of levels (hereinafter, referred to aslevel number) of the multi-level signal 13 outputted by the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b. The multi-level processing part 111 b generates amulti-level signal from the information data 10 based on the multi-levelprocessing control signal 65 and the multi-level code sequence 12, andoutputs, as the multi-level signal 13, a signal which is the generatedmulti-level signal the level number of which has been switched. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 43, the multi-level processing part 111 boutputs a multi-level signal of the level number “8” in the periods Aand C, and outputs a signal of a level number “2” in the period B. Morespecifically, the multi-level processing part 111 b may output acomposite signal of the information data 10 and the multi-level codesequence 12 in the periods A and C and output the information data 10 asit is in the period B.

The synchronous signal reproducing part 233 reproduces a synchronoussignal 66 corresponding to the synchronous signal 64, and outputs it tothe multi-level discrimination controlling part 234. The multi-leveldiscrimination controlling part 234 generates a multi-leveldiscrimination control signal 67 based on the synchronous signal 66, andoutputs it to the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. The multi-leveldiscriminating part 212 b performs discrimination based on themulti-level discrimination control signal 67 while switching thethreshold value (multi-level code sequence 17) for the multi-levelsignal 15 outputted from the demodulating part 211, and reproduces theinformation data 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 43, the multi-leveldiscriminating part 212 b discriminates the multi-level signal of thelevel number “8” in the periods A and C by using, as the thresholdvalue, the multi-level code sequence 17 the level of which successivelychanges, and discriminates the binary signal based on a predeterminedfixed threshold value in the period B.

While in FIG. 43, the threshold value (average level) for the binarysignal in the period B coincides with the average level (C3) of themulti-level signals in the periods A and C, the present invention is notlimited thereto; it may be set to any level. While in FIG. 43, theamplitude of the binary signal in the period B coincides with theamplitude (information amplitude) of the information data 10, thepresent invention is not limited thereto; it may be set to any amplitudeas long as it has a magnitude that can be discriminated by a fixedthreshold value by the multi-level discriminating part 212 b. While inFIG. 43, the transfer rates in the periods A and C and in the period Bare the same, the present invention is not limited thereto; they may bedifferent transfer rates. In particular, it is preferable that thesmaller the level number is, the higher the transfer rate is.

Moreover, in FIG. 43, the multi-level processing part 111 b outputs themulti-level signal 13 where switching is made between the multi-levelsignal of the level number “8” and the binary signal. However, thecombination of level numbers of the multi-level signal 13 is not limitedthereto; it may be any combination of level numbers. For example, themulti-level processing part 111 b may output the multi-level signal 13where switching is made between the multi-level signal of the levelnumber “8” and a multi-level signal of the level number “4.” Further, inthe data communication apparatus shown in FIG. 42, the transfer rates ofthe pieces of information data 10 and 18, the multi-level code sequences12 and 17, and the multi-level signals 13 and 15 may be changedaccording to the value of the level number.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by causing adecisive deterioration in the reception signal quality in wiretapping bythird parties by encoding the information data to be transmitted as amulti-level signal, a safe communication channel only for specificreceivers is ensured, and by reducing the level number as appropriate,communication not requiring safety is selectively realized. Thereby, astealth communication service and a general communication service aremixedly provided by using the same modulating and demodulating systemsand transmitting system, and an efficient communication apparatus can beprovided.

Thirteenth Embodiment

FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 44, the data communication apparatus according to the thirteenthembodiment is different from that of the twelfth embodiment (FIG. 42) inthat the data receiving apparatus 10201 does not have the synchronoussignal reproducing part 233 and the multi-level discriminationcontrolling part 234.

FIG. 45 is a schematic view for explaining the signal waveform outputtedfrom the multi-level encoding part 111. Hereinafter, the datacommunication apparatus according to the thirteenth embodiment will beexplained by using FIGS. 44 and 45. Since the structure of the presentembodiment corresponds to that of the twelfth embodiment (FIG. 42), theblocks performing the same operations are denoted by the same referencecharacters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In FIG. 44, the multi-level processing part 111 b outputs themulti-level signal 13 which is the output signal while switching thelevel number thereof, based on the multi-level processing control signal65, and when the level number of the multi-level signal 13 is decreased,sets the amplitude of the multi-level signal so as to be large. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 45, while the level number is “8” in theperiods A and C, in the period B, the level number is “2,” and theamplitude is made sufficiently large. More specifically, the multi-levelprocessing part 111 b outputs the multi-level signal 13 while settingthe amplitude of the binary signal in the period B so as to be equal toor larger than that of the multi-level signals in the period A and C.

The multi-level discriminating part 212 b performs the discrimination(binary determination) of the multi-level signal 15 outputted from thedemodulating part 211 by using the multi-level code sequence 17 as thethreshold value irrespective of the level number, and reproduces theinformation data. For example, as shown in FIG. 45, in the periods A andC, the multi-level signal of the total level number “8” is discriminatedby using, as the threshold value, the multi-level code sequence 17 thelevel of which successively changes, and in the period B, the binarysignal is discriminated based on the multi-level code sequence 17.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by causing adecisive deterioration in the reception signal quality in wiretapping bythird parties by encoding the information data to be transmitted as themulti-level signal, a safe communication channel only for specificreceivers is ensured, and by reducing the level number as appropriateand increasing the amplitude, the threshold value control at the time ofreception of the multi-level signal is facilitated to therebyselectively realize communication not requiring safety with a simplerstructure. Thereby, a stealth communication service and a generalcommunication service are mixedly provided by using the same modulatingand demodulating systems and transmitting system, and an efficient andeconomical communication apparatus can be provided.

Fourteenth Embodiment

FIG. 46 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 46, the data communication apparatus according to the fourteenthembodiment is constituted by connecting a data transmitting apparatus19105, the data receiving apparatus 10201 and a sub data receivingapparatus 19207 via the transmission path 110 and a branching part 235.The data communication apparatus according to the fourteenth embodimentis different from that of the thirteenth embodiment (FIG. 44) in thatthe branching part 235 and the sub data receiving apparatus 19207 arefurther provided. Although omitted in FIG. 46, the multi-level decodingpart 212 includes the second multi-level code generating part 212 a andthe multi-level discriminating part 212 b. Hereinafter, the datacommunication apparatus according to the fourteenth embodiment will beexplained. Since the structure of the present embodiment corresponds tothat of the thirteenth embodiment (FIG. 44), the blocks performing thesame operations are denoted by the same reference characters, anddescriptions thereof are omitted.

In FIG. 46, the data transmitting apparatus 19105 transmits themodulated signal 14 which is the multi-level signal shown in FIG. 45that is modulated. The branching part 235 branches the modulated signal14 transmitted via the transmission path 110 into a plural number m (mis an integer equal to or higher than 2; in FIG. 24, m=2), and outputsthe branch signals. The data receiving apparatus 10201 is provided so asto correspond to a number n (n is an integer equal to or lower than m;in FIG. 46, n=1) of modulated signals among the number m of modulatedsignals outputted from the branching part 235. In the periods A and C,the data receiving apparatus 10201 demodulates and decodes the modulatedsignal based on the second key information 16 shared as the same key asthe first key information 11, thereby reproducing the information data18. The data receiving apparatus 10201 may discriminate the binarysignal in the period B.

The sub data receiving apparatus 19207 is provided so as to correspondto a number m−n (in FIG. 46, m−n=2−1=1) among the number m of modulatedsignals outputted from the branching part 235. A sub demodulating part236 demodulates the modulated signal, and reproduces the multi-levelsignal 15. An discriminating part 237 discriminates the multi-levelsignal 15 outputted from the corresponding sub demodulating part 236based on a predetermined fixed threshold value, and reproduces theinformation data (partial information data 68) only in the period Bshown in FIG. 45.

While in FIG. 46, the branch number m at the branching part 235 is 2,the data receiving apparatus 10201 is provided so as to correspond to anumber n−1 of modulated signals among the number m of signals and thesub data receiving apparatus 19207 is provided so as to correspond to anumber m−n=1 of modulated signals, the present invention is not limitedthereto; the numbers may be set to any values as long as m≧n, and thecorresponding number of data receiving apparatuses and sub datareceiving apparatuses are provided.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by causing adecisive deterioration in the reception signal quality in wiretapping bythird parties by encoding the information data to be transmitted as themulti-level signal, a safe communication channel only for specificreceivers is ensured and by reducing the level number as appropriate, abroadcast communication to an indefinite number of receivers isselectively realized. Thereby, a stealth communication service and acommunication service such as a broadcast communication and a broadcastare mixedly provided by using the same modulating and demodulatingsystems and transmitting system, and an efficient communicationapparatus can be provided.

Fifteenth Embodiment

FIG. 47 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data communicationapparatus according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 47, the data communication apparatus according to the fifteenthembodiment is constituted by connecting a data transmitting apparatus19108, a plurality of data receiving apparatuses 10201 a and 10201 b,and a sub data receiving apparatus 19207 via the transmission path 110and the branching part 235. The data transmitting apparatus 19108further has a key information selecting part 136 compared with thefourteenth embodiment (FIG. 46). Although omitted in FIG. 47, themulti-level decoding part 212 includes the second multi-level codegenerating part 212 a and the multi-level discriminating part 212 b.Hereinafter, the data communication apparatus according to the fifteenthembodiment will be explained. Since the structure of the presentembodiment corresponds to that of the fourteenth embodiment (FIG. 46),the blocks performing the same operations are denoted by the samereference characters, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

In FIG. 47, the key information selecting part 136 selects one fromamong a plural number n of pieces of predetermined key information (inFIG. 47, n=2; first key information 11 a and third key information 11b). The multi-level encoding part 111 generates the multi-level signal13 as shown in FIG. 45 based on the selected key information. A number nof data receiving apparatuses (10201 a and 10201 b) are provided so asto correspond to the number n of modulated signals among a number m (inFIG. 47, m=3) of modulated signals branched and outputted by thebranching part 235, and demodulate and decode the modulated signalsbased on second key information 16 a and fourth key information 16 bshared as the same key as the corresponding first key information 11 aand third key information 11 b, thereby reproducing the correspondingpieces of information data (18 a and 18 b).

Specifically, in FIG. 45, when the data transmitting apparatus 19108generates the multi-level signal 13 by using the first key information11 a in the period A, the data receiving apparatus 10201 a demodulatesthe modulated signal inputted in the period A, and reproduces theinformation data 18 a by using the second key information 16 a. When thedata transmitting apparatus 19108 generates the multi-level signal 13 byusing the third key information 11 b in the period C, the data receivingapparatus 10201 b demodulates the modulated signal inputted in theperiod C, and reproduces the information data 18 b by using the fourthkey information 16 b. The data receiving apparatuses 10201 a and 10201 bmay demodulate the modulated signal inputted in the period B toreproduce partial information data 58.

The sub data receiving apparatus 19207 is provided so as to correspondto a number m−n (in FIG. 47, m−n=3−2=1) of modulated signals among anumber m of modulated signals outputted from the branching part 235,demodulates the modulated signals, discriminates them based on apredetermined fixed threshold value, and reproduces the information data(partial information data 58) only in the period B shown in FIG. 45.

While in FIG. 47, the branch number m at the branching part 235 is 3,the data receiving apparatus 10201 is provided so as to correspond to anumber n−2 of modulated signals among the number m of signals and thesub data receiving apparatus 19207 is provided so as to correspond to anumber m−n=1 of modulated signals, the present invention is not limitedthereto; the numbers may be set to any values as long as m≧n, and thecorresponding number of data receiving apparatuses and sub datareceiving apparatuses are provided.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by causing adecisive deterioration in the reception signal quality in wiretapping bythird parties by encoding the information data to be transmitted as themulti-level signal, and by providing a plurality of pieces of keyinformation and making switching thereamong for use, a safecommunication channel only for specific receivers is ensured, and byreducing the level number as appropriate, a broadcast communication toan indefinite number of receivers is selectively realized. Thereby, astealth communication service and a communication service such as abroadcast communication and a broadcast are mixedly provided by usingthe same modulating and demodulating systems and transmitting system,and an efficient communication apparatus can be provided.

The data communication apparatuses according to the second to fifteenthembodiments may have the characteristics of some of the embodiments incombination. For example, the data communication apparatuses accordingto the second to the seventh and the ninth to the fifteenth embodimentsmay have the characteristic of the eighth embodiment (for example, seeFIGS. 48A to 48C). For example, the data communication apparatusesaccording to the second to the ninth and the eleventh to the fifteenthembodiments may have the characteristic of the tenth embodiment (forexample, see FIGS. 49A to 49C). For example, the data communicationapparatuses according to the second to the eleventh and the thirteenthto the fifteenth embodiments may have the characteristic of the twelfthembodiment (for example, see FIGS. 50A to 50C). For example, the datacommunication apparatuses according to the second to the seventh and theninth to the fifteenth embodiments may have the characteristics of theeighth and the twelfth embodiments (for example, see FIGS. 51A to 51C).For example, the data communication apparatuses according to the secondto the ninth and the eleventh to the fifteenth embodiments may have thecharacteristics of the tenth and the twelfth embodiments (for example,see FIGS. 52A to 52C).

The processings performed by the data transmitting apparatuses, the datareceiving apparatuses and the data communication apparatuses accordingto the first to the fifteenth embodiments may be grasped as datatransmitting methods, data receiving methods and data communicationmethods having a series of processing procedures.

The data transmitting methods, the data receiving methods, and the datacommunication methods are realized by a CPU interpreting and executingpredetermined program data capable of executing the processingprocedures stored in a storage device (a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, etc.).In this case, the program data may be installed into the storage devicevia a storage medium, or may be directly executed on the storage medium.The storage medium includes semiconductor memories such as ROMs, RAMsand flash memories, magnetic disk memories such as flexible disks andhard disks, optical disk memories such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and BDs, andmemory cards. The storage medium is a general idea includingcommunication media such as the telephone line and carrying paths.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The data communication apparatus according to the present embodiment isuseful as a safe secret communication apparatus that is never wiretappernor intercepted.

1-98. (canceled)
 99. A data transmitting apparatus that performs ciphercommunication, comprising: a multi-level code generating part thatgenerates, from predetermined key information, a multi-level codesequence a signal level of which varies substantially like a randomnumber; a first modulating part that generates a first modulated signalof a predetermined modulation format based on information data; a secondmodulating part that generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format based on the multi-level code sequence,wherein by cascading the first modulating part and the second modulatingpart, a modulated signal a modulation condition of which variessubstantially like a random number is generated in correspondence with acombination of signal levels of the information data and the multi-levelcode sequence, and signal points of multiple levels in the modulatedsignal are substantially uniformly arranged.
 100. A data communicationapparatus in which a data transmitting apparatus and a data receivingapparatus perform cipher communication, wherein the data transmittingapparatus comprises: a first multi-level code generating part thatgenerates, from predetermined key information, a first multi-level codesequence a signal level of which varies substantially like a randomnumber; a first modulating part that generates a first modulated signalof a predetermined modulation format based on information data; a secondmodulating part that generates a second modulated signal of apredetermined modulation format based on the multi-level code sequence,by cascading the first modulating part and the second modulating part, amodulated signal a modulation condition of which varies substantiallylike a random number is generated in correspondence with a combinationof signal levels of the information data and the multi-level codesequence, the data receiving apparatus comprises: a second multi-levelcode generating part that generates, from key information equal to thekey information, a second multi-level code sequence a signal level ofwhich varies substantially like a random number; a demodulating partthat demodulates the modulated signal, and reproduces the multi-levelsignal; and a multi-level discriminating part that discriminates themulti-level signal based on the second multi-level code sequenceaccording to a predetermined processing, and reproduces the informationdata, and signal points of the multi-level signal are substantiallyuniformly arranged.